KAYAK FISHING

Freedom is the first thing that hit my mind when I got in my kayak and started my kayak fishing trip down the river. I love to fish the West Branch of the Delaware in New York.

I have problems with both my knees and it has become almost impossible to climb up and down the river bank. Now in a kayak I can relax and comfortably drift down the water to fish holes I could have never had access.  I got in the river below Cannonsville, and drifted  south toward Deposit.  It is so nice to fish dry flies from a kayak, you do not have to worry about snagging trees or getting crowded by other fishermen. I got right into a great caddis hatch, and I was using a size 16 Henryville Caddis with a 6X tippet. Fish were breaking every where, it was one of the best trips I ever had. I caught many browns in the 2-3 pound range and just as I got to my last spot a got a nice hooked jaw brown about 4 pounds.

  There is a large population native brown trout that every spring are actively feeding 3 to 4 pound fish are common. It was this trip that hooked me on fly fishing from a kayak. I try to make the trip every year. 

I enjoy just taking a quiet ride on the kayak, it really relaxes and gets your head right.

I enjoy taking the kayak down to the Delaware / Raritan Canal in New Jersey. 

I put in at Millstone then make my way toward South Bound Brook. I fish for large mouth bass, I use a 7wt rod with 7WTF floating line. I love to cast poppers to the sides of the canal banks. The water drops off quickly to about 6 feet and holds some large fish. There are many easy in and outs for kayak fishing  along the canal which makes it a care free adventure. I start fishing the canal starting in June as the stock trout season is finishing up. I seem to catch a pickerel every trip I go out. 

I highly recommend fly fishing from a kayak, if you never tried kayak fishing, try renting one for the day to get a feel for it. The best thing to do is go to the Delaware river and rent a kayak for the day. They drop you off and then pick you up at the end of the day. Once you fish your way down the Delaware you will want your own. 

June and July are great times to fish the Delaware for small mouth bass . The place is loaded, I use large black stone fly nymphs and hellgrammite patterns.

Every time I fish the Delaware I always seem to catch a few nice stripers, there are always stripers around and 5-10 pounds is common but there are 30-40 pounders swimming around.  

       The sit-on-top kayak is probably the most all-around popular style of fishing kayak. The typically broad beam of sit-on-tops offers great stability; they're easy to hop into and out of and make for easy turning to access gear . The sit on top kayaks can be divided into 3 groups, paddle, pedal and electric., the good news is all kayaks are paddle power, so if your drive breaks or your battery goes dead, just grab your paddle.

                                     Paddle Fishing Kayaks

        The paddle kayak is what I think of when it comes to small roof top kayaks. kayaks in the 10 foot range that have a weight of less than 55lbs. and a capacity to carry an least 275lbs.,These are the most affordable. They also work well in shallow streams and rivers since they will float in several inches of water depending on how much weight is onboard.  You need the correct size paddle and some paddles are lighter and more efficient than others. If you plan on paddling for several hours the lighter the paddle the better. 

                                       Pedal Fishing Kayaks

         There are many advantages to using peddle power on your kayak. The first thing is that it is fast! I can peddle much faster than I could paddle. Another advantage is that you are using your legs, and your leg muscles can really put out. Fin power drive is like the tail of a fish and the waving motion thrust you forward. 

         Propeller pedal drives seem to me to be the superior Pedal drive. There is an actual propeller just like an outboard motor, and they can really move.

          The downside to pedal drives is when you are in  shallow water  the drive sticks out below the hull and if there are rocks or other objects in the water the drive can be severely damaged.

                                 Electric Motor Fishing Kayaks

     Electric  trolling motors with the shafts shortened are mounted front, back or middle of the kayak. This is my dream machine, an electric motor to propel me far upriver and them I get to slowly drift downstream fishing effortlessly. The electric trolling motors have adjustable shafts so that you can move through very shallow water, and easily retract them out of the water and not worry about damages due to rocks or objects.

                                        CHOOSING A FISHING KAYAK

Think about want you really want, comfort , stability , plenty of storage and the ability to move back and forth and cast and land fish without feeling like your going to tip. For small streams and lakes a cartop 10 ft with a roof rack will do. If you are planning on big rivers and lakes get a kayak that is ay least 12 feet and a capacity of 450lb. Along with this larger kayak you need a good trailer to tow it to your destinations. Do yourself a favor and get a good electric trolling motor, save your energy for fishing not paddling. 

                          There are several important parameters to consider when choosing a kayak, the weight capacity, how much boat do you need, your weight and 75lb for your stuff. Length and width. The wider the more stable. Think about what you really want in a kayak and get it the first time. Think about how you plan to transport the kayak, car top or get a trailer.

Do your homework, research different brands and models and read reviews. 

Spend time to look at different models and types, but most important is to  shop online to get a feel for different models and educate yourself and become an expert.    

  Buy quality, spend the money the first time. Every one I know that fishes from a kayak has had at least 4-5 kayaks before they finally bought want they really wanted.